Montreal Initiates Comprehensive Safety Review of Key Bike Lanes
The newly elected administration at Montreal City Hall has launched a significant review of twelve existing and planned bicycle lanes across the city. This initiative includes some of Montreal's most heavily used cycling corridors, specifically those on Rachel Street and Côte-Ste-Catherine Road.
Evaluation Focused on Safety Enhancement
Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada clarified on Tuesday that the primary objective of this review is to enhance safety where necessary, not to dismantle the existing infrastructure. "We are not talking about dismantling today. We are in the evaluation and analysis process," Martinez Ferrada stated during a news conference. "Seeing how we can ensure the layout of these bike lanes corresponds to traffic flow and safety."
The lanes selected for examination were chosen based on several criteria:
- The volume of complaints received by the city
- Discussions with local elected officials
- Identified safety concerns and traffic flow issues
Detailed Analysis for Four Priority Corridors
The city has identified four bike lanes that will undergo what officials describe as an "in-depth analysis":
- Rachel Street bike lane
- Côte-Ste-Catherine Road bike lane
- Meilleur Street in Ahuntsic-Cartierville
- de la Commune Street in Ville-Marie
Alan DeSousa, the executive committee member responsible for mobility and infrastructure, emphasized that these selections were not arbitrary. "It's based on safety issues, complaints, petitions received and discussions with the different boroughs and elected officials," DeSousa explained.
Additional Projects Under Scrutiny
Beyond the existing lanes, the city will also review several planned bike lane projects to ensure they meet the new administration's standards:
- Viau Street in Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
- Berri and St-Urbain Streets in Ville-Marie
- Bellechasse Street in Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie
Furthermore, the administration is collaborating with boroughs to address bike lanes with "known issues," including the controversial Terrebonne Street bike lane in Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, which has faced substantial resident opposition.
New Monitoring Process and Funding
The city is implementing a proactive monitoring system for bike lanes that will enable intervention when safety concerns arise, rather than waiting for serious incidents to trigger reviews. Montreal has allocated $1 million for these measures in the current year, with work expected to commence following winter conditions.
Political Reactions and Community Response
Projet Montréal, the official opposition party, expressed concern that the review might eventually lead to the removal of bike lanes. Party leader Ericka Alneus questioned whether the administration would prioritize safety improvements or public opinion in their decisions.
Several cycling advocacy groups have responded to the announcement, offering to participate in the review process while cautioning against using it to roll back established infrastructure. Mathieu Murphy-Perron of Vélorution Montréal noted, "We can't be against the idea of improving what already exists. But the real risk is giving the impression that the problem comes from the bike lanes when in fact it comes mainly from the fact that they don't form a coherent and continuous network."
This review fulfills a campaign promise made by Mayor Martinez Ferrada to conduct an audit of Montreal's bike lane network within her first 100 days in office, which she will mark on February 20.
